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In today’s labor market, salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers across various demographics. For those considering a career in senior caregiving, understanding the average salaries by state is essential.
While individual salaries can vary based on experience and location, we compiled reliable data on average salaries for senior caregivers across the United States, categorized by state and seniority level. Although your city’s salary may differ slightly from the state average, these figures provide a helpful benchmark.
To analyze salary variations, we utilized the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding senior caregiver salaries. Additionally, we adjusted these figures based on each state’s cost of living—acknowledging that the purchasing power of a salary differs significantly depending on where you reside.
After accounting for cost of living adjustments, the state that ranks highest for senior caregiver salaries is North Dakota. Below is a snapshot of the top ten states:
Let’s delve deeper into how we arrived at these rankings and explore the full list of state salaries.
If you’re interested in more about the job scene, check out:
How We Determined Pay by State
To establish the salary landscape for senior caregivers, we sourced average annual salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics—specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics’ for 2026.
In order to create a fair comparison of salaries across states, we took into account the cost of living in each area.
We then calculated an index by dividing the average salary for a state by the cost of living index. For instance, if California’s cost of living index is 135.9 and the average salary is $25,150, the adjusted salary would be:
$25,150 * (100 / 135.9) = $18,506
The states were ranked based on this adjusted salary index, with the highest value indicating the best average salary for senior caregivers.
Detailed List of Senior Caregiver Salaries by State
| Rank | State | Adjusted Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $32,082 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $26,735 |
| 3 | Kentucky | $26,055 |
| 4 | Iowa | $26,043 |
| 5 | Michigan | $25,258 |
| 6 | Wyoming | $25,152 |
| 7 | Washington | $24,629 |
| 8 | Utah | $24,591 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $24,414 |
| 10 | Illinois | $24,143 |
| 11 | Alaska | $24,103 |
| 12 | Ohio | $23,773 |
| 13 | Idaho | $23,637 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $23,519 |
| 15 | Vermont | $23,220 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $23,143 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $23,140 |
| 18 | Kansas | $23,047 |
| 19 | Delaware | $23,047 |
| 20 | Missouri | $23,019 |
| 21 | Indiana | $22,994 |
| 22 | Colorado | $22,967 |
| 23 | Florida | $22,848 |
| 24 | Arkansas | $22,640 |
| 25 | Montana | $22,549 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $22,495 |
| 27 | Arizona | $22,285 |
| 28 | North Carolina | $22,172 |
| 29 | Georgia | $22,122 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $22,006 |
| 31 | Nevada | $21,878 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $21,856 |
| 33 | Connecticut | $21,307 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $21,282 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $21,241 |
| 36 | South Dakota | $21,224 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $21,184 |
| 38 | Oregon | $20,873 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $20,746 |
| 40 | Texas | $20,529 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $20,521 |
| 42 | Maine | $20,496 |
| 43 | Alabama | $20,164 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $19,979 |
| 45 | Maryland | $19,840 |
| 46 | Virginia | $19,771 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $19,599 |
| 48 | New York | $19,473 |
| 49 | California | $18,506 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $14,836 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
